Mark O’Ojong returns to San Antonio FC for 2018 USL Season

Midfielder / Full Back Mark O’Ojong will return to San Antonio FC for the 2018 season, the club announced Friday.

Tulsa Roughnecks FC play San Antonio FC during the second half of a USL playoff soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio won 2-1. (Darren Abate/USL)

O’Ojong joined San Antonio FC in late April last season, most recently from USL side Seattle Sounders 2. Our friends at Sounder At Heart expressed their frustration with Seattle not signing the then-20 year old to their MLS club, who was named to USL’s 20 Under 20 squad in 2016. O’Ojong made 11 starts in 15 appearances with SAFC in 2017, scoring 2 goals and earning a 70.5% passing accuracy percentage in opponents’ half and a 72.7% tackle success rate.

It wasn’t until the end of the USL season that O’Ojong found consistent minutes with SAFC. With a very crowded midfield, O’Ojong made the move to right back, where he dominated minutes to close the season. After stepping in for a suspended Ben Newnam, O’Ojong started 5 of the final 6 SAFC matches at right back, including two USL Cup Playoffs matches.

Orange County FC plays San Antonio FC during the first half of a USL soccer match, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. (Darren Abate/USL)

With no other announced player having significant minutes at right back, O’Ojong is poised to fill out the starting back four, along with Greg Cochrane, Stephen McCarthy, and Cyprian Hedrick. More signings are expected, but other candidates for the position include midfielders Pecka and Maxi Rodriguez or center back Cyprian Hedrick.